IHC CJ to take up plea against slow internet speeds and firewall installation

The Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Amir Farooq will hear a petition against the slow internet speeds and firewall installation on Monday.

According to 24NewsHD TV channel, the Registrar's Office of the High Court fixed the application for hearing with objections.

The petitioner requested the installation of firewalls affecting the fundamental rights of citizens should be stopped.

Installation of firewall should be subject to consultation of all stakeholders and protection of fundamental rights, it added.

Access to the Internet for livelihood should be declared a fundamental human right under the Constitution, the petitioner stressed, adding that the firewall installation process should be suspended until the application is decided and orders should be given to ensure uninterrupted Internet access to citizens

The secretaries of cabinet, IT and Interior, PTA, Human Rights ministry are made party in the petition.

 The Registrar's Office has raised four objections, questioning how the petitioner’s livelihood is affected by the internet connectivity issues without providing supporting documents.  The objections also pointed out that the Pakistan Information Commission should have been the first forum for seeking information and asked why the petition was filed directly with the high court.